Opioids, Impairment and Safety: Knowing the Signs of Potential Impairment

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2019, almost 71,000 people died from drug overdoses with the main factor being opioids. That includes prescription drugs, heroin, and fentanyl. During the pandemic, opioid deaths reached an all-time high. Opioid impairment in the workplace is an ongoing occupational health and safety issue that is reaching crisis proportions. Impairment can cause both physical and behavioral changes that impact a person’s capacity to work safely, creating safety concerns and hazards for themselves and others.

Impairment can cause changes in a person’s mental and physical ability to function. These changes may include:

• Reduced capacity to concentrate, think clearly, evaluate situations and make appropriate decisions in a timely manner
• Decreased motor coordination and sensory perception, slower reaction time
• Other psychological impacts including personality changes, mood changes, or irritability

Many people think of impairment as resulting from substance use from substances like alcohol, prescription and non-prescription medication, medical and recreational cannabis, and other drugs. However, impairment can result from many different situations, that have nothing to do with substance abuse including:

• Physical or mental fatigue as a result of having a young child, working more than one job or working an unbalanced schedule, medical conditions, or other reasons
• Illnesses or medications that cause fatigue, dizziness, or nausea
• Experiencing stress or trauma at home including family or relationship conflicts or in the workplace including conflict with a supervisor, bullying or sexual harassment
• Exposure to extreme physical conditions at work like heat, cold, excessive mental or emotional stress, poor lighting that causes headaches or eyestrain

Employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety and health of workers. This includes learning to recognize impairment in employees, not allowing employees to work while impaired, developing impairment policies and procedures, enforcing policies in a fair, consistent manner, and making sure employees are aware of their responsibilities and policies regarding impairment.

Impairment can appear in different ways. But, remember, signs and symptoms can be caused by more than one situation. Avoid jumping to conclusions about why someone is acting differently. Follow the policies and procedures in place to ensure fair, consistent handling of potential impairment in the workplace.

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Signs of Potential Impairment

Physical Impairments

• Fast shift in physical appearance (hygiene, weight loss, weight gain)
• Tremors
• Unsteady gait, loss in manual dexterity or working in an unsafe manner
• Odor of drugs or alcohol

Mental Impairments

• Inappropriate verbal or emotional responses or behaviors
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Unusual isolation from coworkers
• Lack of concentration, forgetfulness and confusion
• Lying

Performance Impairments

• Calling in sick frequently
• Unexplained tardiness, leaving work early and taking long breaks
• Errors in judgement
• Deterioration in performance and quality of work
• Testing positive on a drug screen

Contact your Martin Sales Rep or call 800.828.8116 for a list of onsite and live webinars that educate your employees on how to be safe in the workplace.